Overlapping-flat-card index



E. W. HILL.

OVERLAPPING FLAT CARD INDEX.

APPLICATION FILLD NOV-7,1919- Patented Mar. 29, 1921.

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avwawfoz EDWARD W. HILL, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

OVERLAIPIPINGFIsl-AIDG-ARD INDEX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. ca 1921;

Application filed November 7, 1919. Serial No. 336,424.

To aZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDWARD W. HILL, a citizenof the United States of America, residing at Chicago, Illinois, haveinvented a new and useful Overlappinghlart-@ard Index, of which thefollowing is a specification.

The main object of my invention is to provide convenient and inexpensivemeans for supporting index cards or slips in an overlapping relation,and so that any one can be quickly removed or replaced withoutdisturbing anyother one. Another object is to provide means for carryingmemorandum cards or slips in the pocket so that they will be protectedand yet when desired a part of each card will be displayed with itsindex mark or memorandum exposed or partially exposed to view. Anotherobject is to provide a simple and inexpensive form of construction inwhich the cards may be readily inserted or removed and which cards maybe inserted in a typewriter. Another object is to so construct andarrange the parts that the index will be flexible and convenient tohandle and carry.

In the form shown the device consists of a folder having a plurality ofoverlapping index cards detachably secured along one edge and a folderfor covering the same. This folder is shown as provided with a pocketfor containing additional cards or other matter. In the form shown thefolder is provided with two sets of index cards and to display theinterior, with a corner of a card bent or turned outwardly.

Fig. 2, is a diagrammatic end view of the device folded up and on anenlarged scale.

Fig. 3, shows an edge and front view respectively of the support for thecards.

Fig. 4 shows one of the cards.

Fig. 5, is a transverse sectional view on an enlarged scale of thesupporting member for the cards.

Figs. 6 and 7 are similar" cross sectional views showing modificationsof the support. ing member. I

In the form shown the pocketbook or folder has the four sections 10, 11.12 and 13 preferably formedot some flexible material such as leather.The two interior sections 11 and 12 carry the index cards or memorandumslips. A flexible metal strip 14 is secured to the folder -for instance,by sewing PI T1VBt1 I1g through the openings 15-45. This strip 14carries a number of pins or studs 16 uniformly spaced along the strip. Anumber of fingers such as 1717 integral with the left hand edge of thestrip 14 and bent upwardly and backwardly, serve to steady the outerends of the pins or studs 16-16 and to guard the left hand edge of thecards 18. Each card is provided with a series of fingers 19-19 along itsleft hand edge with recesses 20-20 alternating with the fingers. Thespacing and size of the recesses correspond with the spacing and size ofthe pins 16. Each finger 19 is wider than the space between adjacentpins 16 so that the fingers have to be buckled some what to enable themto slip between the pins. The outer ends of the recesses 20 arepreferablyflaring so as to facilitate the insertion of the cards.

Preferably the base strip 14 projects to the right beyond the ends ofthe lingers 17 so as to afford a sort of introductory guide for theedges of the cards which on account of the iingers and recesses aresomewhat rough and would be liable to catch on the strip it the pinslGwere near the edge of the strip 14. By having the fingers 17 spacedapart troni each other instead of in the form of a continuous cover, theholder is much more flexible which makes it more convenient to carry inthe pocket.

In the form shown in Fig. 6 the heads of the pins 21 are formedintegrally and the protecting fingers 17 are omitted.

In the form shown in Fig. 7, a continuous cover strip .22 is provided inplace of the fingers 17.

It will be seen that by this arrangement a number of cards may becarried in an overlappingrelation so that the upper edge of each card isdisplayed with its appropriate number, index or memorandum. It will alsobe seen that the arrangement can be changed at any time, or cards may beremoved or reversed and new cards may be inserted at any position. Soalso it is possible: to arrange the cards with a narrow upperedgedisplayed or a wider edge. The studs are preferably long enough toaccommodate quite a number of cards, for instance, six.

It will be obvious that with a given length of pin,;the number of cardswhich can be used will depend upon their thickness.

' In the form shown the left hand section 10 is provided with a pocketlarge enough to hold papers of considerable size. The pocket 23 isadapted to contain a scratch pad or a number of scratch sheets or pages,or for instance, to display a card of any kind. The pocket 24 is adaptedto contain a number of reserve index cards or slips. It will be obviousthat a complete commercial device might consist of the two sections 10and 11 or of the two sections 11 and 12, or the two sections 12 and 13.,

The parts arepreferably so proportioned and arranged that they can befolded up into a thin flexible device suitable for carrying in thepocket for ready reference,

It will be obvious that the method of mounting the cards or slips may beapplied. to different styles and sizes of cards and that it may be usedfor office records and files. As the cards require no clips or otherprojecting members they can be readily inserted in a typewriter ifdesired.

I claim:

1. A. pocket card index comprising, a supporting strip having aplurality of spaced studs, a plurality of cards having projectingfingers along one edge with open recesses for the studs between saidfingers and a cover for the strip, studs and cards, the superficial areaof each card being only a fraction of that of the cover and each studbeing long enough to accommodate a number of cards in overlappingarrangement.

2. A'pocket card index comprising, a supporting strip having spacedheaded studs, a guard at one edge of said strip, the opposite edge ofsaid strip extending some distance from said studs and beyond the headsthereof, a plurality of cards detachably mounted on said studs inoverlapping relation and a cover for said parts.

3. A pocket card index comprising, a flexible support having studsprojecting therefrom, fingers connected to one edge of said strip andoverlying the heads of said studs and notched cards detachably mountedon said studs and a flexible cover for said parts.

4:. A pocket card index comprising, a supporting strip having a numberof studs spaced uniformly lengthwise thereof, a plurality of'small cardshaving bendable fingers with spaced recesses between them along one edgeand adapted to be independently mounted on different groups of saidstuds in either alined or overlapping relation.

5. In a card index construction, a base strip, a plurality of fixedstuds carried thereby and spaced apart along the length thereof atregular intervals, a projecting head for each stud and a plurality ofrelatively small index cards having distortable fingers with notchesbetween the fingers spaced apart at the same intervals as the studs,said cards being supported on said studs in overlapping relation andbeing insertible and removable independently of each other.

6. In a card index construction, a base member, a plurality of studscarried thereby and spaced apart along the length thereof and eachhaving a projecting head and a plurality of cards having fingers withnotches between the fingers spaced apart at the same intervals as thestuds, some of the fingers being distortable and wider than thecorresponding spaces between adjacent studs whereby said cards areyieldingly held in place but are insertible and removable independentlyof each other.

EDWARD lV. HILL.

